Archiving - The Constant
Evolution
Modern business relies upon the effective collection, analysis
and use of data. This can range from production or marketing
information to consumer statistics or competitor data. One
thing is clear, data and the use of it is critical to business
success. The International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts
stored data will increase by 80% pa for the next 4/5 years.
Successful organisations recognise the need to have instant
access to business critical data. This is true of all industries,
from IT to manufacturing or public sector organisations such
as the emergency services and councils. The speedier and more
accurate the information, the easier it is for an organisation
to remain reactive to changes in their internal and external
environment.
One of the key concerns regarding data storage is that many
organisations don’t understand which data is critical
and where it is actually stored. In some cases it can take
weeks to extract critical business data, which will clearly
impact on the decision making process and potentially harm
the organisation.
Many forms of digital data are now in use, these include;
PDFs, JPGs, video, audio and email. Mix this with traditional
paper based data and it really is a recipe for disaster! With
legislation, storage and security issues and the increasingly
high volume of data in circulation, many organisations are
facing very serious issues.
Clearly identifying business critical data and being able
to process and store it effectively undoubtedly relieves the
burden of data management. For example, tax legislation demands
that records are retained about previous invoices, tax returns,
accounts and VAT. Whilst this data is unlikely to be referred
to again, without it organisations could face huge penalties.
Being able to separate this from everyday data that assists
in the running of the business allows organisations to create
a streamlined and reactive system of storage management.
What Can We Learn From This Evolution?
Successful organisations are realising that developing an
effective data storage management infrastructure is critical.
Previously, organisations have tended to focus on data gathering,
which has resulted in pressure being exerted on their current
technology. Without being able to collect, analyse, store
and manage their data properly the exercise of data collection
is wasted. Ultimately, this information should be used for
generating revenue and supporting business objectives.
With our experience and track record of data storage, we can
assist in developing and integrating an effective data storage
and management infrastructure that meets the needs of the
modern business environment.
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